Our Family Picture

It was Easter Sunday. We were dressed to the nines. I was in a fun new dress, JJ in a cute little vest and Jeff was looking as handsome as ever (despite his desperate need for a haircut). 9 o’clock church kept us from snapping any pictures before we had to rush out the door.  I told myself not to forget we needed to take pictures when we got home. We had to document our fanciness on JJ’s first Easter!

At church, my primary kids were hopped up on jelly beans, peeps and chocolate bunnies. They were extra rowdy with sugar and excitement fueling their little bodies. While it was pretty crazy, I was surprised at their knowledge of the Easter story. These 5 and 6 year olds knew the real reason we celebrate Easter. They knew it wasn’t because of a bunny, or baskets, or colored eggs- it is because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They not only knew how to say "resurrected' but they knew what it meant! I even had a little girl exclaim, “I can't wait to die! I can see my grandma and we will both come alive again because of Jesus!” By the end of the lesson my heart was full.

After our church block I found JJ in Jeff’s arms: squirmy, grumpy and fully equipped with a soggy diaper. When we got home my first item of business changed from family picture to seeing to that diaper. JJ thought it would be funny to pee all over my new dress (hand wash only), and his church clothes while I was changing him. Now we both needed to change. Wait, what about that family picture? I looked over at Jeff and as usual he was out of his church clothes and into his Sunday “comfs” before I could even say, “say cheese.” I pulled an Elsa and let it go. Maybe we could get a picture the next Sunday.

With JJ down for his nap I started browsing social media. Everyone was posting gorgeous family photos and…. Gasp. Easter baskets. I didn't do an Easter basket for my baby’s first Easter! I hadn’t even thought about it. I felt like a failure.

When JJ woke up we heard happy squeals outside. We peeked out the window to see Asher, our little 3 year old neighbor, searching for hidden eggs. We went out to the courtyard to watch and enjoy a bit of his excitement. He joyfully accepted our attention and gave JJ one of the eggs he had found. My heart melted! At least my little guy got one Easter egg.

Jeff and I started talking to Josh and Abby (Asher’s parents) about how we hadn’t done anything for JJ’s first Easter. They laughed saying whatever they had done for Asher when he was that young had already been forgotten. We talked about social media and the pressure it sometimes places on us to measure up to what other people are doing. How we essentially end up comparing our day to day lives with other’s highlight reels. How sometimes, if we step back, we realize we are doing these elaborate things for ourselves and to be seen by others, instead of doing them for our children.

Abby, who is a photographer, had her nice camera out documenting the Easter egg hunt. She asked if we’d like a picture of our family. I looked at us. We were all changed into our Sunday comfs and our hair was ruffled by Sunday naps. I said, “sure... we aren’t very dressed up.” and Abby laughed, “That's ok we were just talking about how to be more authentic!”

As I laid in bed that night I reflected on what I had discussed with my primary kids and how it applied to me.  Easter isn't about getting the best picture of my family posted on the Internet or giving my child the cutest Easter basket. It is about my Savior. He is risen! Because of Him when I die it isn’t the end. I can live with this sweet little family of mine forever.

So here is the picture we captured of our family on Easter Sunday 2016. It may not be what I envisioned originally but I think I like it better. It comes with memories and lessons I never want to forget.